“We don’t have time,” I said, glancing at Keegan and then at my dad.
Keegan stood behind me and rubbed my back. “We have to move carefully.”
Carefully was the opposite of how my body felt. I wanted to launch every magical thing I had at the Priestess’ compound, but what would that prove?
That I had no restraint? That I didn’t respect my mom’s wishes?
“But I can’t just stand here.”
The room tilted slightly, and Keegan steadied me with a hand at my back. I felt dizzy and confused, and I didn’t know if it was because my mom had left or because I felt helpless.
“We’re not doing nothing. We’re thinking together. We’re processing together.” Keegan smiled, and it touched his eyes, making me feel a bit calmer.
“I just can’t believe she left willingly,” I said.
“That matters,” he answered. “It changes things. It changes how we respond.”
Grandma Elira’s gaze warmed.
“Magic means something different to everyone,” she said softly, echoing my mother’s words. “Your mother believes she’s acting out of love.”
“That doesn’t make it safe.” I wrapped my arms around myself again and shivered. “And it doesn’t make it easier.”
“No,” she agreed. “It doesn’t.”
“She asked me something earlier tonight,” my dad said. “She asked if blood can be corrected.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “She thinks she can reason with the Priestess or worse, yet…she thinks she can change her.”
“Maybe,” Grandma Elira offered. “Or maybe she’s trying to keep the Priestess busy.”
“Busy from what?” Caleb asked.
Elira’s eyes met mine, and I took a deep breath, feeling warm again.
“From Maeve.” I didn’t like the sound of that.
“We need to keep an eye on the Wards even more so now.” I glanced at Caleb.
“And no one should move alone,” Caleb said, taking a step inside.
“And what about the orcs?” I asked.
“They’ve already doubled their watch,” Caleb explained. “I think they can sense a change, and they don’t want to do anything or let anything ruin their chances of going home. I’ll pass along what we’re talking about so they don’t take it as being confined.”
“Thank you,” Keegan said.
I pictured what was happening outside with wolves and orcs standing side by side around the cottage.
The Priestess thrived on division, and tonight there wasn’t any.
I breathed in slowly, knowing that whatever we did, it would be controlled and unified.
“We can’t let panic decide this.” I glanced at Miora and then at Twobble.
He hadn’t spoken since handing me the letter.
Twobble still stood where he had when he first walked into the cottage, with his hands clasped together and shoulders curled inward in a way that made him look smaller than usual. It nearly killed me to see my goblin looking so…defeated.
